Rachel Burns, a courageous 22-year-old mother from Northern Ireland, received devastating news shortly after celebrating her daughter Raeya’s first birthday.
She had an advanced-stage brain tumor with a rare and aggressive mutation and only about four months to live. She never expected strangers to rally to raise $52,000 so that she could be with her baby girl in the time she had left.
She Left Her Appointment With No Real Hope
The persistent dizziness and eye irritation Rachel had been experiencing led to this heartbreaking and unexpected diagnosis. As she grappled with the reality of her limited time, Rachel was determined to make the most of every moment with her precious baby girl.
Faced with the unimaginable, Rachel busied herself writing birthday cards for Raeya, covering all the milestones she presumed she would miss. “I left that appointment with no real hope, and I didn’t know how to tell my mum and the rest of the family,” Rachel shared. “It felt like everything had just been taken away from me at that point.”
However, Rachel and her friends and family refused to give up without a fight. They quickly set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for an experimental treatment in Germany. This treatment, discovered in the past decade, targets tumor cells, potentially giving Rachel more years to spend with her family.
Within 24 Hours, They Raised $38,000
The response was nothing short of miraculous. Within 24 hours, the fundraiser had accumulated $38,000, and within six days, donations continued to pour in, reaching $52,000 of their $76,000 goal. “I spoke with the doctor yesterday, and now we are able to start making plans to go over,” Rachel said with renewed hope.
Rachel’s story touched hearts far and wide. “Belfast is such a small place, but you never think that people from all over would show as much kindness as they have done for me and my family,” she said. The overwhelming support from strangers during this challenging time has given her a renewed sense of hope. “It is a scary time to be going through all of this, but this has given me more hope that I can spend some more time with my family,” she added.
With profound gratitude, Rachel expressed her thanks to all who contributed. “I just want to say thank you to every single person who has donated so far. You don’t know the difference it has made to me and my family,” she expressed.
With time running out, these generous donations are helping her create cherished memories with her newborn and loved ones. #goodnews pic.twitter.com/zFvi1a0Kta
— Good News Network (@goodnewsnetwork) June 20, 2024